One of the most prominent and influential artists of the internet age

“saved” Soundcloud, from its apparent death. The streaming app is used by millions, listeners and artists alike. However, recently, it has not been making ends meet, with insufficient funds to keep up with the demands of their services.

Chance the rapper tweeted that he was working to save the app. He then tweeted that the app was safe. It is unknown how and what was done but it sounds like Soundcloud is now safe due to his efforts. It comes as no surprise that the independent artists that Chance is would go to such lengths to save Soundcloud. Without the app, his free, streaming-only platform would be significantly hindered, even with the options of other streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Nonetheless, Soundcloud is responsible for the careers of many artists and the exposure of amazing talent. Personally, there are many artists, who have influenced me greatly, that I discovered through Soundcloud. Many people share this experience, and the music industry would suffer greatly without it.

On a deeper note, the world revolves around music. We cannot live without it. Therefore, it should be free and available to all. It should be created and shared freely, also. Soundcloud is an advocate of this and deserves to live on.

Almost immediately after his tweets, Chance went on to release a new song with Young Thug, free of charge on Soundcloud. Hopefully, all his efforts will result in longevity for the app.

Kendall and Kylie Jenner (ugh.),

came under fire for once again, trying to prove their relevance. But why is it that every attempt they make, they end up offending a whole group of people? The Jenners released a collection of “vintage band tees”, with the likes of legendary rappers, Biggie and Tupac as well as other well-known bands on them. However, it didn’t stop there. The girls decided to print their faces over these iconic artists in pink and yellow. Now they are facing multiple lawsuits, and have been confronted by family members and estates.

1.Whose idea was this? 2. Why did they think it was okay? The disrespect. Putting your face on top of important musicians, some of which have died, is not cool or edgy, it’s downright disrespectful. Their actions symbolize how important they think they are, and how much influence they believe they have. What they fail to understand is how false their glorified importance is. They have and continue to ride on the backs of others to get where they are. Now they are facing multiple lawsuits, and have been confronted by family members

Dear Kendall and Kylie,

Taking something that is not yours, and claiming it is stealing. And the number of ideas and things that you have stolen and made a profit off of is simply too much.

“Jail braids” or “Boxer braids” are cornrows. I grew up wearing them, and back then they were only affiliated with ghetto black people. Now because of you, it’s cool and chic and cute. Same with full lips and wide hips and big butts. All things once shamed. now sought after because of you guys.

This must make you guys feel special, giving you a sense of false relevance. Leading you two to believe that anything can become trendy or important once one of you or both of you prove it is. Like protesting or solving social justice issues with Pepsi.

Here’s the thing, just because you’re rich and white, just because you have huge followings and a large audience doesn’t give you the right to take things you didn’t come up with because you assume once you put your name on it everyone will love it. Sooner or later people will catch up to your bull.

So on behalf of us people who do and create things first for the right reasons, stop stealing and claiming our ideas for the wrong ones.

There was a time

it was unnoticed. The quiet, the silence. I enjoyed it. Being alone was enough for me. I was okay with being detached, I was okay with surface-level relationships. Hi’s and Bye’s , friendly conversations. Never really let anyone in. Never really got to know anyone. It was a pleasant isolation.

However, something changed. I began to notice the quiet, the silence. I began to realize the absence, the emptiness. Slowly, I wasn’t just alone anymore but lonely. I felt it. What it was to seemingly have nobody, and everyone I did have had someone else who they preferred over me. Soon, I began to long for deeper relationships. I ached for someone to let in. Someone to know. Isolation had gotten so so old.

So, I have begun a journey. One to meet new people and let them in. One to deepen the relationships of the people I know. I refuse to be alone. I refuse to get sucked into the vast black hole of loneliness. Striving to reach my full capacity in life, I will live to the fullest, building strong and lasting relationships. We were not meant to live life alone, but to thrive together and through each other. And that’s what I intend to do.

I love rollercoasters.

The rush, the thrill, the speed, the adrenaline, I love it.

But I hate rollercoasters. The type that confuse you and give you anxiety, I’m not talking about the attractions at Six Flags but those little roller coasters that life involuntarily puts us on. Like love.

It’s supposed to be a good thing, but love (sometimes) comes passion and with passion comes pain. A lot of it. But love is only one little rollercoaster, friendships and other things can also be such wild rides.

Life itself is just this crazy ride we’ve been thrown on. You never know what to expect. It may start slow, but then it picks up speed, and the next thing you know you’re being hurled around at 70mph. For some of us the exact opposite happens, we just never know.

The important thing is where we end up when the ride is over. And that all depends on how well we hold on, and how well we react to the twist and turns that it brings us.

Do we let go easily? Do we try to jump off before its over? Do we grab the bar as tight as we can? Do we scream our lungs out, close our eyes, and brave it? Do we have that determination to hold on until the end?

That’s why I hate these roller coasters. It forces so many decisions on us, and it’s up to us to make the right one.

This summer

my goal is to read five books before school starts back in the fall. I know five does not seem like a lot, but I know many who are reading a total of 0 zero, so five is a huge accomplishment in my eyes.

To start off the series, I began with a book that has been on my TBR for a very long time and I finally got around to reading it. The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith is a phenomenal story of a girl who is raped but keeps it a secret which throws her life into a spiral downward. She goes through many phases, heading down a deep dark path because of what she has gone through. Until finally, she uncovers her secret, and her world becomes a hopeful and better place.

This book shines a light on the effects of rape. It is not only physically damaging but emotionally and mentally damaging too. The writer beautifully shows how rape can change or more accurately ruin a person and their outlook on life, and how that then affects the people around them. It also shows how keeping it all inside can eat away at a person slowly. I recommend this book to any girl or any person that knows someone who has experienced this or has been a victim to rape themselves. You are not alone. And yes it is hard, but there are people out there that will help you. There are numbers you can call if you are in need. Don’t ever hold it inside, don’t let it tear you apart, You do not deserve that. No one does.

If you are a victim or know someone who is, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)

I have twin siblings.

A boy and a girl. They never cease to annoy me. However, that’s besides the point. I’ve lived my life acknowledging the fact that I don’t have a twin. There are times that this makes me happy because I’m not big on sharing, but there are times it makes me not so happy because I’ve observed the sense of security and support that having a partner brings.

All this to say that one day I realized I do have a twin A male one, tall, and a face exactly like mine. Yeah, my dad. And I could not ask for a better twin. My dad is equal parts strength and intelligence. Assertive and the least spontaneous person I know. But he’s kind and giving. He’s understanding and patient (kind of). I am passionate, ambitious, and driven because of him. He’s also all kinds of wise. He’s taught me very valuable lessons and continues to everyday. He is the reason I am the person I am today. Thanks Dad, you are the best twin I will never have.

“Never lose faith in yourself, and never lose hope; remember, even when this world throws its worst and then turns its back, there is still always hope.”
― Pittacus Lore, The Power of Six

Welcome

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."
e. e. cummings
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